FG Commences Final Round Of Negotiations With ASUU.

Logo.

The federal government has announced that it has entered the concluding phase of discussions with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions within the tertiary education sector.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, revealed this in Abuja on Wednesday during a meeting of the Technical Working Group on Conditions of Service of ASUU.

Alausa expressed hope that unresolved matters would soon be settled to avoid any further industrial action.

He mentioned that the group was in the process of completing a counteroffer, which would be submitted to the unions through the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Negotiations Committee.

According to him, the committee’s task aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s instruction that every effort must be made to keep Nigerian students in school and prevent any interruptions to the academic calendar.

“The President has made it clear that our children must remain in school. The technical working group is working to finalise a component of the condition of service that has to be proposed. They are working to finalise a counteroffer to them.”

“Hopefully by the end of today, or latest tomorrow, the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expected Negotiations Committee will receive that counteroffer to ASUU.”

The minister observed that approximately 80 per cent of the unions’ demands were consistent across institutions, while the remaining 20 per cent were unique to specific sectors.

He stated that the committee, which was inaugurated earlier in the week, had commenced in-depth discussions aimed at speeding up the agreement and ensuring timely implementation.

He further noted that the current administration had already made considerable progress, particularly with the disbursement of the Earned Academic Allowance amounting to ₦50 billion, as approved by President Tinubu.

“In addition, N150 billion was included in the 2025 budget for needs assessment, and this will be released in three tranches, with the first N50 billion ready.”

“They (lecturers) deserve to be paid so much, and our academic and non-academic staff. But then, we can’t give you everything you want at the same time.”

“But it’s the gesture, our benevolence, commitment to at least get substantial benefits and financial rewards for you.”

“This government is doing other things to improve your welfare. At this point, we’ve addressed several of the issues that we’ve brought up,” he said.

Alausa also confirmed that arrears of promotions and other pending allowances, such as those for teaching and wage awards, had been resolved and that all remaining entitlements would be fully cleared by 2026.

Reaffirming the government’s dedication to mutual respect and long-lasting solutions, he urged both academic and non-academic unions to remain patient and refrain from choosing strike action as an initial response.

“We have resolved a lot of these issues. But we know the final part is the condition of service. We will resolve that as well.”

“So we are pleading with the unions, both academic and non-academic, and tertiary institutions to be patient. This government is sincere, and we are truthful.”

“We have shown you this over the last 24 months plus, that the administration of President Bola Tinubu came on board. So please bear with us and be patient,” Alausa said.

He added that, for the first time, the Solicitor General of the Federation and representatives from the Ministry of Justice were actively participating in the negotiation process.

This initiative, he explained, was designed to ensure that all agreements reached would be legally sound and enforceable.